Lock for paper fasteners



May 15, 1928.

F. J. KLINE LOCK FOR PAPER FASTENERS Filed Oct. 7, 1926 ad a 4 2 2 @jsmATTORNEY-5 V Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED. STATES FRED J. KLINE, or BAYVILLE, NEW YORK.

LOCK non PAPER FASTENERS.

Application filed October 7, 1926. Serial m5. 139,995.

This invention relates to an inexpensive and easily operated lock forpaper fasteners of the familiar type which are used to secure sheets ofpaper in files and the like.

The fasteners have two prongs or tongues which pass through perforationsin the paper. and are ada ted to be bent in opposite directions. heprongs are made of soft metal to facilitate bending and they do notprovide much resistance to strains which tend to loosen the fastener.This is particularly true when the papers are fastened together inrelatively thick bundles. Consequentlythe' fasteners do not afford thedesired security.

It is the object of thepresent invention to provide a lock, adapted tobe applied easily to a fastener after it has been thrust through abundle of paper, which will hold the prongs of the fastener in positionto bind the papers -ifirnily and securely until the lock is released.

A further objectof the invention is the provision of a simple lock forpaper fasteners which requires only slight and obvious manipulation tosecure the desired result.

Other objectsand advantages of the invention will be apparent as it isbetter understood by reference to the following specification andaccompanying drawing, in which: i

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective illustrating the lock as applied;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of a lock embodying the invention Fig. 3 is asection on the line 8-3 of Fig. 4 is a similar section of a modified 5is a plan view of another form of 6 is' a section on the line 66 of Fig.12 is a plan view illustrating the aps plicationof the look as shown inFigs. -7 and 8; l

The lock which I have devised employs in principle two legs, one ofwhich is adapted to embrace the prongs of the fast ener at the pointwhere the latter are bent to secure the papers. The other leg isthenbent to overlie the prongs in sucha way as to prevent anyloosening ofthe 'prongs. The lock can be made of any suitable metal such as softbrass or soft tinned-s heet-steel and can be stamped from metal sheetsor strips with a minimum of waste.

In its simplest form the lock comprises two legs, one of which isperforated to permit the prongs of the fastener to pass therethrough.The other leg is normally bent at a right angle and can be further bentwhen it has been placed in position to overlie the fastener prongs, In amodified form the lock may comprise two legs with an intermediate leg orweb having a perforation to embrace the fastener prongs. The legs may bebent after the lock is in place to secure theprongs. p

In another form of the invention the perforation is displaced by a slotin one of the legs so that the lock can he slipped into position withoutdifficulty. Thesecond leg may have a flange thereon which engages theprongs and prevents the look from escaping when it has been secured inplace. Instead of providing. a flange the notched leg may have smallprojections at the mouth of the notch. The prongs of the fastener arespreadslightly when they are bent to hold the papers and the projectionsat the mouth of the notch will effectually prevent escape of the lookafter it has been seciired.

Any of the forms of the lock as described may have teeth on the underside of the leg or web which engages the paper to prevent the look fromturning after it hasbeen secured in place and to grip the papers moresecurely. The teeth may be stamped from the metal by the same die whichis used in cutting the locks. Mere roughing of the metal in any suitableway will accomplish substantially the-same result.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9thereof. the lock comprises a pair of legs 5 and 6 bent at a rightangle, the leg 5 having a perforation 7 therein. In applying the lockthe prongs 8 of the fastener are passed through the papers 10 andthrough the perforation 7. The leg 5 rests upon the papers and theprongs 8 are bent thereon. Thereafter the leg (5 of the lock is bentover the prongs of the fastener and prevents any loosening of thefastener.

The lock illustrated in Figs. 4 and 10 is substantially similar instructure and operation to the simple form shown in Fig. 1 except that aperforation 11 is provided in a web 12 having two legs 13 which can bebent to overlie the prongs of the fastener after the latter has beenflexed to grip the papers.

In Figs. 5 and 11 the lock is formed with a leg Lt having a slot 15therein. The other leg 16 has a flange 17 which engages the prongs ofthe fastener when the leg 16 is bent over the pron s. With this form oflock it is not necessary to pass the prongs through a perforation. Thelock is slipped into place with the prongs in the slot 15 and the leg 16is then bent over the prongs.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 12 of the drawing the structure includes a. leg 18having a slot 19 therein and projections 20 at the mouth of the slot sothat the mouth is somewhat narrowed. A leg 21 at a right angle to theleg 18 is adapted to be bent over the tongues of the fastener when thelatter is in place. The spreading of the tongues of the fastenerprevents escape thereof through the mouth of the slot and the tonguesare thus locked securely in the desired position.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that the lock ineither of its forms is extremely simple and therefore inexpensive.Moreover, the manner of using the lock is quite apparent so thatrelatively unintelligent workers should have no difficulty in applyingit properly. No practice or acquired skill is necessary in order thatthe fasteners may be held securely and permanently in proper position tofirmly bind papers. The lock, when secured, will withstand any strain towhich it may be subjected in the ordinary handling and use of the boundpapers. The lock can be removed easily by reversing the operation asdescribed. As soon as the binding leg is lifted from the prongs thelatter are released and the lock and fastener can be withdrawn.

Various changes can be made in the form and details of construction ofthe look as described without departing from the invention orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

1. A lock for pronged paper fasteners having a leg adapted to embracethe prongs of the fastener and a leg adapted to be bent longitudinallyover the prongs after the latter have been bent to fastening position.

2. A lock for pronged paper fasteners having a leg with an openingtherein adapted to embrace the prongs of the. fastener and a l g adaptedto be bent longitudinally over the prongs after the latter have beenbent to fastening position.

3. A lock for pronged paper fasteners having a leg with a slot thereinadapted to embrace the prongs of the fastener and a leg adapted to bebent longitudinally over the prongs after the latter have been bent tofastening position.

*1. A lock for pronged paper fasteners having a leg with a slot thereinadapted to embrace the prongs of the fastener. a leg adapted to be bentover the prongs after the latter have been bent to fastening positionand means on one of the legs to secure the lock to the fastener.

5. A lock for pronged paper fasteners having a leg with a slot thereinadapted to embrace the prongs of the fastener, a leg adapted to be bentover the prongs after the latter have been bent to fastening positionand projections at the mouth of the slot to secure the lock to thefastener.

6. A. look for pronged paper fasteners having a leg with a slot thereinadapted to embrace the prongs of the fastener after the latter have beenbent to fastening position. and a leg adapted to be bent over the prongswhen in fastening position.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

FRED J. KLINE.

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